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Dickinson airport to add 3rd Delta, United flights

Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport will soon have a third daily round-trip flight option with both of its major airlines.

Airport manager Matthew Remynse said United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have both decided to add a third flight to and from Dickinson during Thursday’s Dickinson Airport Authority Commission meeting at City Hall.

Remynse said he learned of the news earlier in the week during a conference call.

“The airlines haven’t made it public yet, but both Delta and United will be adding a third round-trip (flight),” Remynse said. “United’s will start April 1 and Delta on June 1.”

In June 2013, the airport began offering two daily flights to and from Denver through United, and to and from Minneapolis with Delta.

Commission Chairman Jon Frantsvog called the development “very good news.” The scheduled new United round-trip flight will leave Dickinson daily at 4:09 p.m. while the new Delta flight is slated to leave Dickinson at 4 p.m.

Upon learning of the news Thursday night, Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., a staunch proponent of increased jet service to and from western North Dakota, released the following statement: “We’ve worked closely with Delta, United and Dickinson leaders to get expanded jet service to the region and we appreciate that both airlines are making a bigger commitment to serving southwestern North Dakota. … This will help western North Dakota meet the growing demand for air service, owing to a dynamic economy.”

Summarizing service provided by Delta, United and Great Lakes Airlines, the Dickinson airport recorded 35,126 boardings in 2013, representing more than a 40 percent increase from 2012.

During an airport strategic planning meeting following Thursday’s regular monthly meeting, representatives from engineering firm KLJ said 2014 enplanements at the Dickinson airport could approach 75,000 or more.

In other news from the meeting, Remynse said that, as of Thursday, the parking gates at the airport are fully operational. The system began malfunctioning in December, due partly to the recent extreme cold weather and wind.

On the financial side, Remynse reported that the airport turned in an operational profit of $349,979 in 2013, though, with capital projects included in the balance sheet, the facility had a deficit of $317,856.

Beginning next month, the commission will meet the second Thursday of every month.

A Wisconsin native, Horwath has been covering news in the Oil Patch of North Dakota since 2012. Horwath currently serves as the senior agriculture and political reporter for The Dickinson Press and, despite the team's tendency to always let him down, remains a diehard Minnesota Vikings fan.